The president said it would be better if Pelosi stayed in Washington to negotiate an end to the shutdown with him and join "the Strong Border Security movement." He told Pelosi she was welcome to pay for commercial flights instead.

"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and key allies — to affirm the United States' ironclad commitment to the NATO alliance," Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, wrote in the statement.

On Wednesday Pelosi wrote to the president, imploring him to delay his annual State of the Union address on January 29 because of "security concerns" caused by the shutdown.

The cancelation of the trip appears to be a direct response to Pelosi's letter.

In the letter, she noted that the US Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security lack the appropriate funding to carry out their duties.

The government shutdown is in its 28th day and is the longest in US history. No federal workers have received payslips since the shutdown started on December 22.

The shutdown hinges on the $5.7 billion Trump wants from Congress to build his Mexico border wall.

Trump is facing opposition from Democrats, who think the wall is not a viable solution to immigration issues in the US, and have refused to sign off on the funding.